Fernando Alonso slams Formula 1 broadcasters: “They are obsessed with me” – Double Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has once again found himself at the centre of controversy. The outspoken Spanish driver recently launched a scathing attack on Formula One Management (FOM), accusing the organisation of singling him out unfairly and focusing on “the crap” in their race coverage.
His comments came in response to FOM broadcasting a team radio message during last weekend’s Grand Prix, in which Alonso described the Aston Martin AMR24 as “the worst car we’ve ever had”.
The incident has reignited discussions about how Formula One portrays its drivers and teams, with Alonso’s comments adding fuel to debates about selective editing in sports broadcasting.
The controversy also highlights Aston Martin’s ongoing struggles in the second half of the 2023 season, as technical issues with the AMR24 car continue to hamper the team’s performance.
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Frustrated team radio sparks controversy
The latest controversy began during the first free practice session of the Grand Prix weekend. Both Alonso and his team-mate Lance Stroll were clearly struggling with their AMR24 cars. Handling issues and a lack of grip made it difficult for the Aston Martins to remain competitive, with both drivers languishing well off the front of the timesheets.
Frustrated by the poor performance, Alonso vented his feelings over the team radio, describing the preparation and handling of the car as “the worst” he had experienced in his career. While such moments of frustration are not uncommon in Formula One, the decision to air this particular commentary during the broadcast immediately attracted attention and went viral on social media.
The airing of Alonso’s comments led to widespread speculation about possible dissension within the Aston Martin team.
Fans and pundits alike questioned whether Alonso’s words reflected deeper issues within the team’s operations, or whether they were simply a driver expressing frustration during a difficult session.
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Alonso’s outburst against FOM
Unsurprisingly, Alonso did not take kindly to the way his comments were presented. In a blistering response, the Spanish driver accused FOM of deliberately misrepresenting him by taking the radio message out of context.
Speaking to Spanish sports publication *Marca*, Alonso accused the organisation of being “obsessed” with him and suggested their editorial decisions were unfairly damaging his reputation.
“They are obsessed with me,” said Alonso. “When you take a radio conversation out of context, it’s easy to make mistakes, and they keep screwing up. If you haven’t been in the meeting with the engineers, you don’t know what we’re talking about.”
The two-time World Champion doubled down on his accusations, stating that while his weekend was filled with positive moments and constructive feedback, FOM chose to highlight only the negative.
“I had more positive messages [to the team] and once again FOM sent out rubbish,” he said, making it clear that he felt misrepresented.
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The bigger picture: Aston Martin’s declining form
The incident comes against the backdrop of a difficult season for Aston Martin. After a strong start to the year, with Alonso consistently finishing on the podium, the team’s performance declined significantly in the second half of the season.
Technical problems, a lack of development and increased competition from rival teams such as McLaren and Ferrari saw Aston Martin slip down the pecking order.
The frustration expressed by Alonso over the team radio reflected the difficulties the team faced over the weekend. In addition to poor handling, the AMR24 suffered from a recurring power delivery problem during the race, a problem Alonso described as the car being “confused”.
“It’s not the first race that we’ve lacked top speed,” explained Alonso. “I think the car is confused, it still thinks we are behind the safety car. So we don’t use the energy properly coming out of the last corner when there’s a green flag.”
These issues proved costly during the Grand Prix, particularly on restarts where Alonso lost several positions due to the car’s inability to deploy energy effectively. Despite these setbacks, the experienced driver managed to finish seventh, scoring Aston Martin’s first points in four races.
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A closer look at FOM’s editorial decisions
Alonso’s allegations against FOM have put the organisation’s editorial practices under the spotlight. Formula One broadcasts often include snippets of team radio communications to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the drivers’ thoughts and emotions during a race.
However, critics argue that these messages are often taken out of context, leading to misinterpretations and, in some cases, unfair portrayals of the drivers.
Alonso has long been at the centre of Formula One narratives, thanks to his fiery personality and outspoken nature. While this has made him a fan favourite and a central figure in the sport, he believes it has also made him a target for unfair treatment. This latest incident is not the first time Alonso has clashed with FOM over his portrayal on air.
For fans, the controversy raises questions about the balance between entertainment and fairness in F1 storytelling.
While airing raw, emotional moments can add drama and intrigue to broadcasts, doing so at the expense of context risks alienating drivers and distorting the reality of events.
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Stroll’s disappointment: A season of unfulfilled expectations
Lance Stroll, who has also endured a difficult year, spoke about what he described as a deeply “disappointing” season for Aston Martin. The Canadian, who currently sits 13th in the Drivers’ Championship with just 24 points, highlighted the team’s failure to make effective improvements as a major factor in their struggles.
“We know we brought a lot of updates this year that ended up being disappointing,” admitted Stroll ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“We’re still running the package from the fourth race of the season. We’ve had four updates since then and none of them have delivered the improvements we needed.”
Aston Martin’s inability to improve the car’s performance has left Stroll battling with drivers from Haas and Alpine, far from the team’s ambitions of challenging for the top four. The Silverstone-based outfit currently sit fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, a staggering 354 points behind fourth-placed McLaren.
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A decline after a promising start
Aston Martin’s struggles are particularly striking given their strong start to the 2023 season. Fernando Alonso joined the team that year to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel and quickly made an impact, claiming six podiums in the first eight races. However, the team’s early momentum faltered as rivals made effective improvements while Aston Martin stagnated.
The trend has continued into 2024. Alonso’s best result of the season was a fifth-place finish in the second race of the year, while Stroll has failed to score a point in the last 10 races, the worst run of his Formula One career.
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Stroll’s focus on 2025: A fresh start needed
As the 2024 season draws to a close, Lance Stroll has shifted his focus to the future. The Canadian driver emphasised the importance of developing a new and improved car philosophy for next season, describing it as a chance for Aston Martin to hit the reset button.
“It’s all about next year now,” said Stroll. “We have to start from scratch with a better car. That’s what we’re all looking forward to at the moment.”
Stroll’s comments underline the urgency with which Aston Martin must address its development shortcomings. The team’s reliance on a package introduced early in the season, coupled with a series of ineffective upgrades, has hindered their ability to compete at the front.
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A lesson in development: Aston Martin’s upgrade problem
Aston Martin’s inability to produce effective upgrades has been a recurring theme throughout the season. The team have introduced four major upgrade packages, all of which have failed to deliver the desired improvements. As a result, they have continued to rely on the same set-up used in the fourth round of the championship.
This pattern mirrors Aston Martin’s struggles in 2023, when Alonso’s early-season success was not sustained due to a lack of development. The team’s rivals, including McLaren and Ferrari, capitalised on their own development programmes to overtake Aston Martin in performance.
To avoid a repeat of this scenario in 2025, Aston Martin must find solutions to its development challenges. Stroll’s comments underline the need for a productive winter break during which the team can focus on developing a more competitive car for next season.
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Alonso and Stroll: Different approaches, shared frustrations
While Alonso and Stroll have expressed their frustrations in different ways, their complaints reflect shared concerns about Aston Martin’s current trajectory. For Alonso, the focus has been on highlighting perceived injustices and maintaining his competitive edge, while Stroll has taken a forward-looking approach, emphasising the importance of building for the future.
Both drivers remain committed to helping Aston Martin regain its footing, but the way forward will require significant changes in both car development and team operations.
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A season to forget, but lessons to learn
For Aston Martin, the 2024 Formula One season has been one of unfulfilled expectations and frustrating setbacks. Fernando Alonso’s criticism of FOM and Lance Stroll’s frank assessment of the team’s upgrade failures highlight the challenges faced by the Silverstone outfit.
As the team looks to the future, the focus will be on developing a car capable of competing at the front once again. With Alonso’s experience and Stroll’s determination, Aston Martin has the potential to bounce back. However, turning potential into results will require a concerted effort to address the shortcomings that have plagued their recent campaigns.
The final race in Abu Dhabi may close a disappointing chapter for Aston Martin, but it is also the first step towards a brighter 2025 season. For now, the team must reflect on the lessons learned and prepare to hit the ground running when the new season begins.
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